Admissions Information
Our Admissions Philosophy
In keeping with our mission, the Colleges seek to admit students from diverse backgrounds to broaden access to careers in law and related professional fields, and to promote understanding in the classroom. For each class year, our goal is to identify students who have the determination, work ethic, and intellectual drive to succeed in the study of law. (click to learn more)
J.D. Admissions Criteria
The Admissions Committee evaluates the traditional criteria for law school admission—academic grade point averages and, in some cases, LSAT, CLEP and TOEFL scores—but other considerations are also very important. For example, the applicant's life experience, maturity, moral character, ability to communicate, and employment or volunteer experience may also weigh heavily in the admissions decision.
Most students admitted to the J.D. program hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university; some have advanced degrees and professional school credentials. We also admit qualified graduates with an associate's degree, or 60 semester units of academic college credits, from a regionally accredited institution. Exceptionally well-qualified individuals without such credentials may be accepted as "special students." Eligible transfer students may also be admitted. All J.D. admissions decisions, including the award of transfer credit, are within the discretion of the Colleges.
We have no admissions preference as to undergraduate major. However, those who enter law school with strong analytical and writing skills are generally more successful, so we encourage aspiring law students to take academically challenging courses that emphasize logic, critical analysis, and expository writing.
M.L.S. Admissions Criteria
In evaluating M.L.S. applicants, the Admissions Committee will consider academic grade point averages and in some cases TOEFL scores—but other factors are also very important, including such things as the applicant's life experience, maturity, moral character, ability to communication, and employment or volunteer experience.
To qualify for admission to the M.L.S. program, an applicant must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Eligible transfer students may also be admitted from Master-level programs equivalent to the M.L.S., or accredited J.D. programs.
Next Steps
Our Admissions Guide provides a step-by-step description of the process, while our Admissions Requirements describe the three categories in which J.D. students are admitted—regular, transfer, and special—and admission requirements for our M.L.S. program.